#Episode 3: Shadow and Thunder

#Scent -- Night Thunder

The moon was thin. Beneath the crescent moon, the fortress crouched on the mountainside like a beast. Stone walls and wooden watchtowers showed only their outlines in the dark. Whenever the wind blew, torchlight flickered inside the fortress. A sentry's shadow moved along the wall. It was not human -- too short, too broad, and horned.

Kage lay flat on the roof. Holding his breath, he looked down. Six shadows moved in the forecourt. Kooni were patrolling with clubs over their shoulders. Not regularly. Yoma patrols had no discipline. They wandered, shoved one another, and sometimes crouched on the ground to chew something. But the number was the problem. Six. And deeper inside the fortress, beyond a closed door, came a heavy breathing sound. It was not a Kooni. Larger, deeper, carrying the smell of iron.

Kage moved low toward the roof's edge. Not one roof tile shifted. Even the sound of his toes brushing the roof was swallowed by the wind. Darkness was on his side. The moonlight was thin, and the torchlight reached only the forecourt. The roof was complete darkness. In that darkness, Kage steadied his breath and stared at the closed door inside the fortress. If he climbed the wall, crossed the roof, and dropped to the far side of the courtyard, he would come out right beside the door. From shadow to shadow. That was Kage's path.

In the forest, Sosui waited with three archers, his fan folded. Before him lay the full view of the fortress. Sosui was counting torch positions and patrol routes. With the tip of his fan, he drew lines in the air -- as if drawing an invisible map. The archers kept pace with each gesture of Sosui's hand. Their faces were tense, but Sosui's low voice pressed their anxiety down.

"Once it begins, you only need to shoot three times," Sosui said. "After three, it will be over."

The archers nodded. They did not believe him. They followed without understanding. But there was always a reason behind Sosui's words. When he said it could be done, it could be done.

Maria was hidden at the forest edge between the roots of a large tree. A Tanegashima lay across her knees. The powder had already been measured, and the ball was loaded. Only the match had not been lit. Maria's eyes were fixed on the closed door inside the fortress. The moment that door opened -- the moment the thing beyond it emerged -- it would be Maria's turn.

Kage moved. He dropped from the roof's edge, slid along the wall, and came down into the courtyard shadow. No sound. The wind blew once, and the Kooni noticed nothing. Kage pressed his back to the wall beside the closed door and set his hand on the handle. He drew his ninjato. The short blade did not even reflect moonlight -- it had been blackened. Kage pushed the door. It opened without a sound.

Inside was dark. But Kage's eyes had adapted to darkness. In the center of the room, he saw a huge shadow sitting in armor. An oni warrior. A frame more than a head taller than a human. Iron armor hung over red skin. A tetsubo lay beside him. The oni's eyes were closed. Sleeping, or meditating. Kage held his breath and stepped closer. He held the ninjato in a reverse grip. A stance for the neck.

Then the oni's eyes opened. Golden pupils shone in the darkness. It had not sensed Kage's presence -- a beast's instinct had warned it of danger. The oni grabbed the tetsubo and tried to stand. Kage did not wait. The ninjato split the dark. The point slipped into the gap between the oni's neck and armor. Blood sprayed. The oni roared. The wall shook. The whole fortress woke to that sound.

Outside, the Kooni heard the sound and ran toward the door. At that moment, arrows flew from the forest. Three shafts. Sosui had snapped his fan open and brought it down, and the archers loosed as one. Two arrows struck Kooni. They screamed and fell. The remaining Kooni looked toward the forest -- they did not know where the enemy was. Darkness hid the enemy's position.

Inside the fortress, the oni warrior rose, swinging the tetsubo. Blood flowed from his neck, but the wound was not fatal. The armor gap had been narrower than expected. Kage backed away and opened distance. In the narrow room, the oni's tetsubo swept through empty air. The tetsubo slammed into the wall and smashed the wooden boards. The wall collapsed, and moonlight poured in from outside.

In that light, Maria moved from between the tree roots. The match caught fire. The Tanegashima rose. Beyond the collapsed wall, the oni warrior's chest was visible. Red skin beneath iron armor. Maria held her breath and pulled the trigger.

Thunder. A roar that tore the night sky. Gunpowder smoke bloomed, and a lead ball crossed the darkness in a straight line. The Kooni flinched at the sound. The oni warrior's armor caved in -- the ball pierced the iron and lodged in his chest. The oni staggered one step back. Blood ran down from his chest. In that instant, Kage drove in again. The ninjato cut deep into the oni's neck. This time, it was not the armor gap -- it was bare skin exposed by the stagger.

The oni warrior fell. The floor shook. Outside, another archer's arrow flew and dropped one more Kooni. The remaining Kooni saw their leader fall and scattered. They fled into the dark. Even yoma knew fear.

Sosui folded his fan. The archers lowered their bows. From forest to fortress -- none of them had left the forest. Sosui's orders had been precise, and the archers' arrows found targets even in the dark. Kage walked out through the collapsed wall, wiping blood from his ninjato. Maria blew smoke from the Tanegashima's muzzle. Their eyes met briefly. No words. None were needed.

The moon shone over the fortress. The thin crescent dyed the blood on the wall silver.

#Law -- Session Actual Play

Kuro (GM) / Hana (Kage) / Mei (Maria, special assignment this episode)

Kuro: Episode 3. This episode's keywords are Outside Zone, infiltration, teppo, and night combat. Until last episode, we focused on the Core Zone and Front Zone, but this time combat starts outside the battlefield. Let's start with battlefield zones.

[Battlefield Zones]
Allied Rear Zone: forest (hidden position, archers deployed)
Enemy Front Zone: fortress forecourt (Kooni patrol)
Enemy Rear Zone: fortress interior (oni warrior waiting)
Flank Zone: fortress wall (infiltration route)
Outside Zone: fortress roof (Kage's starting position)

Hana: What's the difference between Outside Zone and Flank Zone?

Kuro: The Flank Zone is adjacent to the battlefield, but combat rarely happens there. The Outside Zone is outside the battlefield. Enemies cannot detect you there, and they cannot attack you. Kage can start in the Outside Zone because of Shadow Crossing:

[Shadow Crossing]
- Outside Zone ↔ anywhere: movement 0 Energy.
- 1 time per round: usable only 1 time per round.
- Core Zone free: no additional cost to enter/exit the Core Zone.

Hana: 0 Energy movement and enhanced ambush too? How is enhanced ambush different from basic ambush?

Kuro: It's the higher version that applies when entering from the Outside Zone:

[Ambush Comparison]
Basic ambush (Flank Zone → adjacent):
 - First attack check +2
 - Reaction possible (enemy may use reaction actions)

Enhanced ambush (Outside Zone → entry):
 - First attack check +2
 - No reaction: enemy reaction actions (Parry, dodge, etc.) cannot be used

Common:
 - Critical Hit is basically raw double success only
 - Automatic Critical Hit or adjacent-face Critical Hit applies only when an explicit trait or sacred object effect says so

Mei: No reaction is huge. The oni warrior can't use Parry.

Kuro: Right. An attack coming from the Outside Zone catches the target completely off guard. Now, next is night modifiers.

[Night Combat Modifiers]
- All checks -2: attack, defense, reaction, everything.
- Infiltration +3: +3 bonus to infiltration checks.
- Sight limit: can only target adjacent zones (2 or more zones away is impossible).

Hana: All checks -2 is pretty big. Attacks are -2 too?

Kuro: Right. Both sides take -2, so relatively it cancels out, but Defense is a fixed value, so attackers are disadvantaged. For example, Kage has Courage +2, but at night with -2, he is effectively +0. To beat the oni warrior's Defense 14, he needs raw 2d10 >= 13.

Mei: If infiltration is +3, night is favorable for sneaking?

Kuro: Night is overwhelmingly favorable for infiltration. If Kage with Finesse +2 infiltrates, Finesse +2 + night +3 = +5. Enemy detection checks are -2. The gap is 7. Practically, he won't be found.

Kuro: Let's confirm the character sheets.

[Allies]
Kage (shinobi 1st dan): Finesse +2, Courage +0, Energy 12, Wounds 3, Defense 12 (light armor).
 Shadow Crossing: Outside Zone↔anywhere for 0 Energy, 1 time per round, Core Zone free.
 Ninjato(short weapon): attack Energy 2, base 1 Wound(Critical Hit 2).

Maria (gaijin 1st dan): Courage +1, Finesse +1, Energy 11, Wounds 3, Defense 11.
Foreign Gunpowder: teppo `[Pierce all]`, fixed Target Number 11.
 Tanegashima(teppo): Direct Shot 2 Energy, base 1 Wound(Critical Hit 2+pierce).

Sosui (scholar 1st dan): Wisdom +3, Energy 10, Wounds 2.
 Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy: Energy transfer 2→2, squad command always 1 Energy.
 Fan(not a weapon, a command tool).

Archer squad (3 Minions, yumi): Cohesion 3.

[Enemies]
Oni warrior (Elite, Wounds 4): Defense 14, Energy 10, Courage +3. Tetsubo.
Kooni squad (6 Minions): clubs. Uncommanded, berserk.

Mei: Explain teppo rules.

Kuro: The core of the gaijin class:

[Teppo (Tanegashima)]
- Direct Shot: Energy 2. Ranged attack.
- Check: 2d10 >= fixed Target Number (Maria is 11). Enemy [Pierce all].
- [Pierce all]: no matter how high armor is, it does not matter. If you beat the fixed Target Number, it hits.
- Reload: 2 Energy. Defensive maneuver, so it replaces other defense on that breath, and you cannot move while reloading.
- Range: up to adjacent zone (adjacent zones are possible even at night).

Mei: Does night modifier -2 apply?

Kuro: Since it's a fixed Target Number, the night modifier applies to the dice. 2d10 -2 >= 11, so effectively total 13 or higher. But [Pierce all] is so powerful that it's worth accepting. If Kage tries to break through the oni warrior's Defense 14 head-on, he needs total 16 or higher.

Hana: So the tactic works because we have teppo.

Kuro: Now, Sosui's Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy.

[Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy]
- Energy transfer: spend your own 2 Energy → give 2 Energy to an ally in the same/adjacent zone.
- Squad command: always 1 Energy (scholar-specific; fixed at 1 Energy regardless of Wisdom modifier).

Hana: Sosui doesn't fight himself; his role is handing out Energy.

Kuro: Right. Instead of combat power, he increases ally action count and commands the archers for 1 Energy to clean up Minions.

Hana: Let's summarize the tactic. Kage uses Shadow Crossing from Outside Zone to enemy Rear Zone -- enhanced ambush for 0 Energy. Maria can't shoot directly from the forest because night sight is limited, so we reduce the Kooni, advance to the enemy Front Zone, and shoot into the adjacent zone.

Kuro: OK. Round 1 tactic:

[Round 1 Tactical Plan]
1. Kage: Outside Zone → enemy Rear Zone (Shadow Crossing 0 Energy). Enhanced ambush against the oni warrior.
2. Sosui: command archer squad (1 Energy). Shoot Kooni. Repeat.
3. Maria: after clearing Kooni, advance to enemy Front Zone. Fire teppo at the oni warrior.

Kuro: Round starts. Count order.

Kage:    Energy 12 (Finesse +2)
Maria:   Energy 11 (Finesse +1)
Sosui:   Energy 10 (Finesse +0)
Kooni:   Energy 10 (tied, allies act first, so after Sosui)
Oni warrior: Energy 10 (waiting in enemy Rear Zone, does not act until ambushed)

Kuro: Count 12. Kage.

Hana: Shadow Crossing. Move from Outside Zone to enemy Rear Zone (fortress interior). 0 Energy. Attack the oni warrior with ninjato. 2 Energy. Energy 12 → 10.

Kuro: Enhanced ambush applies. First attack +2, no reaction. The oni warrior cannot use Parry or dodge. Roll.

Hana: 2d10 +2(ambush) -2(night) >= Defense 14. Need total 14 or higher. 2d10... 8, 8 = raw total 16. Hit! raw [8,8] is a double.

Kuro: Double success, so Critical Hit. Critical Hit = 2 Wounds. Oni warrior Wounds 4 → 2. No reaction, so he had to take it.

Hana: Extra attack, 2 Energy. Energy 10 → 8. Total 9 -2 = 7. Miss. Night -2 hurts.

Kuro: Count 11. Maria.

Mei: Maria waits in the allied Rear Zone. I'll wait for the Kooni cleanup.

Kuro: Count 10. Sosui. Squad command 1 Energy (Wisdom +3 discount). Archer shot -- 2d10 -2(night) = total 13 -2 = 11. Hits Kooni Defense 11. Hit intensity table — against Minions, total 11~12 = remove 1 Kooni. Kooni 6 → 5.

Kuro: Kooni berserk action. 3 Kooni rush into the forest, archer Cohesion 3 → 2. The remaining 2 Kooni move into the fortress interior.

Kuro: Oni warrior awakens. Tetsubo attack against Kage. 2d10 +1(Courage +3, night -2) = total 10. Kage Defense 12(light armor). Miss.

Hana: Light armor saved him.

Kuro: Can Sosui transfer Energy?

Hana: Sosui is in the forest (allied Rear Zone), and Kage is inside the fortress (enemy Rear Zone). 2 or more zones away. Direct transfer impossible.

Kuro: If Sosui moves to the forecourt (enemy Front Zone), it becomes adjacent and possible. The Kooni scattered, so the forecourt is empty.

Hana: Sosui movement 2 Energy + transfer 2 Energy + squad command 1 Energy = 5. Exactly the one-breath limit.

Kuro: Sosui Energy 9 → 4. He gives Kage 2 Energy. Kage 8 → 10. Then archer shot kills 1 more Kooni. Kooni 5 → 4.

Mei: Maria moves. From forest to enemy Front Zone. Walk 2 Energy. Energy 11 → 9. Enemy Rear Zone is adjacent, so teppo shot is possible!

Mei: Teppo Direct Shot. At the oni warrior. 2 Energy. Energy 9 → 7. [Pierce all], fixed Target Number 11. 2d10 -2... total 14 -2 = 12. Hit!

Kuro: Teppo 1 Wound. Oni warrior Wounds 2 → 1. Since Kage is ready to finish immediately, reload can wait until next breath.

Kuro: Kage, breath 3. Ninjato 2 Energy, Energy 10 → 8. Total 18 -2 = 16, hit! But enhanced ambush is only 1 time when entering. This is a normal attack, so Critical Hit requires a double. 10, 8 is not a double. Normal 1 Wound. Oni warrior Wounds 1 → 0. Defeated!

Hana: One hit!

Mei: Because Maria shaved down his Wounds first.

Mei: Still, Maria opened the way!

Kuro: Oni warrior defeated! Defense 14 was meaningless before the teppo. Direct Shot is light at 2 Energy, but once reload is included, it becomes 4 Energy, so sustained fire is heavy. It's a weapon that needs someone to hold the line before it can shoot. The structure only works when all three characters fit together.

Kuro: Kooni cleanup. Elite-grade enemy dead → uncommanded Minions automatically flee. All 4 Kooni flee!

Mei: Combat over?

Kuro: Combat over!

[End of Combat Summary]
- Oni warrior defeated (Kage finished with ninjato).
- Kooni flee (Elite-grade enemy dead → uncommanded Minions automatically flee).
- Kage remaining Energy 8, Wounds 3 (no damage, thanks to successful night ambush).
- Maria remaining Energy 7, Wounds 3.
- Sosui remaining Energy 4, Wounds 2.
- Archer squad Cohesion 2.

Hana: Without Sosui's transfer, Kage would have collapsed halfway. Without teppo, we couldn't have broken the oni warrior's Defense 14.

Kuro: It's a party where all three interlock. Night's -2 hurts, but infiltration +3 makes the ambush entry reliable. Rule summary.

[Episode 3 Confirmed Rules]
1. Outside Zone: outside the battlefield. Cannot be detected by enemies, cannot be attacked by enemies. Action restrictions.
2. Shadow Crossing: Outside Zone↔anywhere for 0 Energy. 1 time per round. Core Zone free.
3. Enhanced ambush (Outside Zone→entry): first attack check +2 + no reaction.
4. Basic ambush (Flank Zone→adjacent): first attack check +2. Reaction possible.
5. Critical Hit check: baseline is raw double success. Critical Expansion treats adjacent faces as Critical Hits only when an explicit trait/sacred object effect says so.
6. Night: all checks -2, infiltration +3. Sight limited to adjacent zones.
7. Teppo Direct Shot: Energy 2. [Pierce all]. Fixed Target Number(Maria: 11). Night -2 applies to dice.
8. Reload: 2 Energy defensive maneuver. Cannot use other defense on that breath; cannot move while reloading.
9. Energy transfer (Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy): spend 2 Energy → give 2 Energy to an ally in the same/adjacent zone.
10. Squad command (Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy): always 1 Energy. Scholar-specific discount.
11. Elite-grade enemy death → uncommanded Minions automatically flee.

Hana: What's the next episode?

Kuro: Episode 4 is doubles and Fate Intervention. Shion and Seika. Rules for intervening in dice luck appear.

Mei: Teppo feels good. That feeling of punching through armor with one shot.

Kuro: Maria's next appearance is Episode 10, up to Nanban-ryu Licensed level. Kage appears in Episode 9 with the puppeteer for an Outside Zone + Core Zone combination. That's it for today.

"In the dark, shadow took up the blade, and thunder pierced armor. The unseen thing cuts deepest."